Micah Parsons Could Take Jonathan Gannon’s Defense From Good to Great
· Yahoo Sports
Micah Parsons may soon make a return for the Green Bay Packers.
At the very least, it sounds as if head coach Matt LaFleur is expecting the star pass-rusher to be back in practice soon.
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This is according to LaFleur himself, who was asked on Tuesday if Parsons could return to practice next week.
"I sure hope so," said LaFleur.
NFL reporter Ian Rapoport also made it seem that as long as there are no setbacks, Parsons should return to the practice field after Green Bay's Thursday Night Football game against the Carolina Panthers.
If and when he is activated off the PUP, that would open up a 21-day practice window in which Parsons can practice but not count against the active 53-man roster. He'd have to be activated to the 53 within that 21-day window, though, or else he'd have to go back to and remain on the Reserve/PUP list for the remainder of the season.
Obviously, the Packers wouldn't bring Parsons back if they didn't have high confidence in him making it back onto the field.
It's worth noting that his coming back to practice doesn't necessarily mean he'll be playing in Green Bay's very next game, though. That would be a November 8 clash against the New England Patriots on the road, and reporter Rob Demovsky beleives it would be "highly unlikely" for Parsons to play in that game.
That doesn't mean the Packers aren't ready to at least get Parsons back into practice.
"At the end of the day, that's the medical [decision]. Yeah, I'm itching [for] it, though, for sure." LaFleur said, per Demovsky. "I'm saying there's a chance."
So what does the return of Parsons mean for defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon's defense?
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.By the numbers, this is a unit that has been good but not great. They're ranked 13th in total defense, giving up 323 yards per game, and 11th in scoring defense, giving up just 20.7 points per game.
Gannon's defense does currently lead the NFL in takeaways with 13, including nine interceptions, and there's reason to believe they have one of the best defensive back groups in the NFL. That's led by safeties Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard, but cornerback Keisean Nixon is playing great football and rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse looks like he could be a star.
And yet, there are places where the Pack really need help on defense. Mostly, they need help when it comes to rushing the passer, and Parsons just so happens to be a specialist in that regard.
In just 14 games last season, Parsons 12.5 sacks and 27 quarterback hits. He was a first-team All-Pro and a contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, even with his mid-November injury taking him out of action for the back half of the season.
Getting that type of player back will absolutely impact the Packers in a positive manner. How could it not?
There is a chance Parsons can help Green Bay's defense go from good to great, though, and that could be a game-changer as the Packers try to secure a spot in the playoffs for the seventh time in the LaFleur era.